Mayors Across Vermont Strike Out ALS

Mayors Across Vermont Strike Out ALS

It's a movement that's gone viral, and now ALS awareness has reached the Mayor's office.

Burlington, Vt.- As of Monday August 11th, the ALS Association reported a record $4 million in donation to ALS research, compared to a $1.12 million a year ago. Vermonters across the Green Mountain State had a helping hand through the Ice Bucket Challenge, including a handful of Mayors.

Barre Mayor Thom Lauzon, Saint Albans Mayor Elizabeth Gamache, Rutland Mayor Chris Louras, and Burlington Mayor Miro Weinberger were a few notables that completed the challenge. Some Mayors, including Gamache, nominated respective City Council members to take on the challenge and donate to ALS research.

Mayor Weinberger also made a donation to Vermont Walk to Defeat ALS, in honor of Frank Petrosino, who died August of last year after a long battle with the disease. Weinberger called Petrosino a "great Burlingtonian".

Bending the rules a little, Mayor Weinberger made seven nominations. The other Mayors of the Green Mountain State were called upon to take the challenge.

In the spirit of nominating Mayors, Hess included a surprise of his own, and nominated Plattsburgh New York Mayor James Calnon.

Burlington, Vt.- It might be the best reason to dump a bucket of ice water on your head.

The Strike Out ALS campaign has gone viral across the country in an effort to raise awareness for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, commonly referred to as Louis Gehrig's disease.

Gehrig isn't the only baseball player with a tie to the disease.

Former Boston College Baseball Captain Pete Frates was diagnosed, but has made a strong case to build not only awareness but motivate research for a disease with no cure.

When doing the ice bucket challenge, people are nominated and encouraged to either complete the challenge within 24 hours, or donate 100 dollars to ALS research.